Helmet



J. R. HOPKINS 8: R. S. WRIGHT.

HELMET (No Model.)

Patented July 6. 1897 UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

JAMES R. HOPKINS AND ROBERT S. WRIGHT, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS HELM ET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 586,039, dated July 6,1897. Application filed February 23, 1897. $erial No. 624,667. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern: 4 Be it known that we, JAMES R. HOPKINS andROBERT S. WRIGHT, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFiremens Hats, of which the following is a specification. This inventionrelates generally to firemens hats or helmets, and particularly to thatcharacter or kind of hats set forth in Letters Patent of the UnitedStates granted to J. R. Hopkins, No. 560,213, dated May 19,

The object of the invention is to provide such improvements in firemenshats of the class mentioned as will increase their durability andwearing qualities and render them waterproof to the highest degree orextent, whereby they will act to prevent their wearers from beinginjured from falling timber or other articles and to prevent the waterfrom the hose from wetting the firemen.

It is also the object to provide certain other improvements in theconstruction of hats of the type aforesaid, as will more fully appearfrom the following specification.

Heretofore it has been the practice to form the crown of the hat and thecape or brim of two pieces of some light metal, such as aluminium, andto rivet the two together at the base of the crown. This, however, isobjectionable in that it is practically impossible to form a joint thatis permanently watertight, and hence water trickles between the edges ofthe crown and the cape onto the face, head, and neck of the wearer andendangers his health and life, especially in cold and freezing weather.

Hence our invention consists of a firemans hat or helmet in which thecrown and cape or brim are formed integrally of a single sheet of metal,whereby not only is the crown strengthened, but water is effectually prevented from leaking onto the face and body of the wearer, said hat orhelmet being provided with means, as a groove, to receive and maintain asweat-band or pad in place.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis application, in which like characters indicate like parts in all ofthe figures.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 represents in plan view our improved hat orhelmet without the strengtheningribs. Fig. 2 represents the hat inperspective view. Fig. 3 represents a vertical longitudinal sectionthrough the hat. Fig. 4 represents the ribs detached. Fig. 5 representsa policemans helmet.

In the drawings the crown a and the brim or cape b are all died out of asingle integral plate of aluminium. The crown is formed withcorrugations, which add great strength to the structure withoutmaterially increas ing its weight, while the cape or brim is formed witha bead c at its edge and one or more beads c at a short distancetherefrom to increase the strength thereof. At the base of the crown andin a plane slightly above the plane of the junction of the crown and thebrim we form a continuous groove a.

The pad or sweat-band cl may be of any desired material of a thicknessand texture to cushion the metallic crown against the head and preventit from injuring or hurting the wearer, and in the lower edge thereof itis formed with a seam to receive an endless wire d, which when crowdedinto the groove a holds the band or pad in place.

The ribs 6 e are cast integrally and are provided at their junction andat their ends with prongs 6 e respectively, which are driven into thecrown and then beaded over to rivet the ribs in place. The lower ends ofthe ribs are constructed to be sprung over the bead formed by the groovea and are provided with recesses e for this purpose.

By constructing a hat in accordance with the above description we areenabled. to obtain several important results.

The crown and cape being formed of asingle plate of metal prevent thewater received by the cape from leaking through ontothe head and neck ofthe wearer, and thus obviate one of the most objectionable featuresincident to a construction in which the cape and crown are rivetedtogether. The integrality of the crown and cape strengthens them bothand increases their rigidity and durability. Again, by forming thegroove in the crown above the plane of its juncture with the cape thesweat-band or cushioning-pad is not exposed to wear and is entirelyconcealed when the hat is being worn, whereas in previouslyconstruetedhats the pad or band projected below the crown and was exposed to viewor else required an additional separate riveted strip of metal toreceive it.

The ribs being formed or cast integrally possess great strength, and bytheir rigidity prevent heavy articles, such as timber, slate, glass,&c., from breaking or cutting them and injuring the head of the fireman.

Of course while we describe our improved hat as a firemans hat orhelmet, We do not necessarily confine its use to firemen alone, as it iswell adapted for policemen as well, and in Fig. 5 we have shown it inthe shape best adapted for them as well as for cavalrymen, infantrymen,and others.

What we claim is- A firemans hat, comprising a metallic crown, ametallic cape, formed integrally with the crown, and projectingoutwardly therefrom, said crown being formed with a groove opening onthe inner face thereof and located above the juncture of the crownwiththe cape, and a sweat-baud having its lower end held in said groove.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 10th day of February, A.D. 1897.

JAMES R. HOPKINS. ROBERT S. WVRIGHT.

Witnesses:

A. D. HARRISON, MARoUs B. MAY.

